Like many other music superstars, Joshua Bell has fan Web pages, has appeared on late-night television and has won a Grammy Award. Unlike most other superstars, Joshua Bell is a classical violinist.

Bell will continue the University Lecture Series tonight with an evening of music and conversation with Daniel Hege, music director of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra. Between the performances, Bell and Hege will engage in discussion on topics ranging from performance to the nature of music. The presentation will take place in Hendricks Chapel beginning at 6:30 p.m. Bell will perform Bach’s “Chaconne” from Partita No. 2 in D minor and Ysaye’s “Sonata No. 3” for Solo Violin, said academic affairs spokesman Patrick Farrell.

“He is one of the most important violinists of today,” Hege said. “There are just a handful of players who have that kind of distinction, and Josh is one of them.”

One look at Bell’s biography, which can be found on his official and many of his numerous fan-created Web sites, gives an impression of his diverse contributions to the world of classical music. He broke into the national scene at the age of 14 when he made his debut with Riccardo Muti and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Since then, he has recorded 26 albums and has earned credits as a chamber musician, soloist and conductor. Two of those albums, recordings of Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story Suite and the Nicholas Maw Violin Concerto, have received Grammy Awards.

However, Bell’s reputation as a superstar may be rooted in his work outside the field of traditional classical music. Hege said that Bell’s importance as a musician can be found in both the technical quality of his work and his ability to crossover into other musical genres.

“His ability to crossover shows a window into his curiosity,” Hege said.

Bell’s crossover works include a Grammy-nominated bluegrass collaboration, Short Trip Home, as well as collaborations with jazz musicians, such as Wynton Marsalis. Bell also preformed on the soundtrack of Francois Girard’s film starring Samuel L. Jackson, “The Red Violin”, which captured an Academy Award for Best Original Score.

Hege said that those attending Monday’s performance should listen closely to the message in Bell’s music. This message, Hege said, may be different for every listener.

“They should really try to discern what he’s tying to communicate through his music,” Hege said.

Hege himself has also made a significant contribution to the world of classical music. His conducting credits include associate conductor of the Kansas City Symphony and resident conductor of the Baltimore Symphony. He came to the SSO from Baltimore in 1999.

In addition to performing, Bell will take the opportunity to pass on some of his knowledge to four of SU’s best violin students, who were chosen on the basis of talent by Joseph Downing, dean of the Setnor School of Music and orchestra director James Tapia.

Angela Allen, a junior music major and one of the four to play for Bell today, said that Bell has been an inspiration to her since the earliest days of her music career.

“Getting comments on my playing from him will be the most incredible thing ever,” Allen said. “I think the comments he makes will help me grow to be a better violinist.”

Published on March 2, 2003 at 12:00 pm